Or common salt or table salt; NaCl white, crystalline compound found widely in nature. It is a a typical ionic solid with a high melting point (801şC/1,474şF); it is soluble in water, insoluble in organic solvents, and is a strong electrolyte when molten or in aqueous solution. Found in concentrated deposits, it is widely used in the food industry as a flavoring and preservative, and in the chemical industry in the manufacture of sodium, chlorine, and sodium carbonate.